Wednesday, February 29, 2012

It's been a while since I've posted a Wednesday Workout Review. (As with most of my blog features, this one tends to ebb and flow...) But I've actually encountered quite a few great workout DVDs lately, so I'm going to try to catch up on posting about them, and then get back in the swing of a workout review every week or so.
The DVD I'm featuring today is Kari Anderson's Center Floor: Strength, Length, and Flow. One of Kari's previous workout DVDs, Reach, has been a long-time favorite of mine, so I looked forward to trying out this new one. I was not disappointed. I like it just as much as Reach.

The full Center Floor workout runs 55 minutes. It's divided into chapters, so you can certainly do a shorter version; but if you can find a way to make time for the whole thing, I highly recommend it. There's a nice arc to the workout: it holds together well and feels complete when it's done.

You start with standing work, then proceed to some floor work, followed by stretching. Many of the moves are ballet-inspired, but not in an intimidating or confusing way (if I can manage to keep my two left feet on track during it, so can you). Challenging, but not overwhelming: steps and movements build on one another and come together nicely. It's the sort of workout where you work hard during it but by the end feel invigorated rather than exhausted.

There's a pleasant, what I'd call "classy" overall feel to it. Kari Anderson comes across as authentic and gracious - no pretense, no persona. I think that's what allows one to feel so relaxed even while working hard. The music is nice, too. It's described on the DVD case as "upbeat world music combined with smooth calming rhythms," and I'd say that describes it well.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Beth: Though Getting Somewhere is my first published novel, words and language and books have been a great love of mine from a very young age. I majored in journalism and anthropology at the University of Michigan – I’d been convinced that creative writing was too impractical – and I think that provided me with both skills and a world view that have served me well. Most of my adult life has been devoted to raising four homeschooled kids on our ten-acre farm, milking dairy goats and making cheese, growing organic produce for a year-round, indoor farmers market that I founded in my town, and doing sustainability activism, eventually leading the project to develop our community’s first sustainable master plan. After nearly thirty years of farming, I decided to turn back to my first love to see if it might welcome me back. It has!

Debbie: Please tell us all about your book!

Beth: Getting Somewhere is the story of four girls who have been convicted of juvenile crimes and choose to serve out their sentences in an alternative detention program located on an organic farm. Not surprisingly, life on the farm is a difficult adjustment: the girls distrust the women who run the program, question what possible use it could be for them to work with their hands, to live ‘out in the middle of nowhere,’ and are even suspicious of each other – somewhat with good reason. All have secrets, wounds of their own, yet the program offers something they can barely resist, an opportunity for a kind of nurture and self-awareness that they’ve never had. Three of the girls begin to respond but the fourth, determined to keep her real self hidden, sets out to destroy everything the others are working so hard to achieve.

Debbie: Other books or projects on the horizon?

Beth: I have a number of novels underway but it will be my editor’s decision which one we go with next. They include the story of a kidnapping that leads to a search for a group of teenage class warriors, one about a teenager whose best friend has cancer, a novel about two young people fighting discrimination against migrants in their town, and a contemporary version of a famous teenager in history (no further hints!)

Debbie: Upcoming appearances?

Beth: I will be participating in a storytelling event at Better World Books in Goshen, IN (not far from Michigan!) on March 2 and will be reading and signing at Kazoo Books in Kalamazoo on March 13. I will also be at Schuler Books and Music in Lansing sometime in early May (see website or Facebook author page for details.) I have several author visits in the works for schools and youth centers and am particularly interested in and excited about the educational opportunities that come along with being an author.

Debbie: Do you have a favorite Michigan bookstore? And/or a favorite Michigan library?

Beth: It’s really such a privilege to live in a state as beautiful as Michigan. The Lake Michigan shoreline, from the orchard belt down here in the south to Sleeping Bear Dunes is a favorite destination for my family. On occasion, we get to the Upper Peninsula as well and I have wonderful memories of camping along Lake Superior – wild, diverse, and utterly breathtaking.

Debbie: Do you have a Michigan event or happening that you love to attend?

Beth: I am continually impressed by the incredible artists and performances found at the Gilmore Festival in Kalamazoo. The annual ArtPrize event in Grand Rapids is also spectacular.

Debbie: A few fun Michigan people we should all know about?

Beth: Well, as you know, Michigan has some amazing authors like Jaimy Gordon, Bonnie Jo Campbell, David Small, and Wade Rouse – it’s really dangerous to name any for all those that I am missing. I haven’t lived in Michigan all that long but I have enjoyed all the wonderful people I’ve gotten to know.

Debbie: Something you'd like a non-Michigander to know about Michigan?

Beth: Michigan has something for everyone – vibrant cities, diverse ecosystems, dynamic arts and entertainment – and it’s also a great place for foodies with its orchards, vineyards, fresh produce and strong sustainable agriculture movement.

Debbie: Last question: Some folks in Michigan refer to themselves as Michiganders; others Michiganians. For our ongoing vote tally: are you a "Michigander" or a "Michiganian"?

Beth: Definitely Michigander.

Debbie: We'll add you to the Michigander column! Beth, thank you so much for being with us today!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

If you happen to be up in the Petoskey area, I wanted to pass along news about some upcoming events the bookstore McLean & Eakin is going to be having for kids.

On Saturday, March 3 they'll be having a celebration of Mo Willems' book Happy Pig Day (making Elephant and Piggie birthday cards and decorating cupcakes). And then beginning March 5 they'll have a miniMonday Storytime + Activity every other Monday from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M.

To learn more about their events, click here. McLean & Eakin is a great bookstore - be sure to add it to your "Bookstores to Visit" list!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Still a couple of days to sign up for my Michigan Notable Books Reading Challenge. For details and to sign up, click here -- executive summary is that if you commit to reading two books from the current Notable Books list (with no deadline or time table for doing the reading; no book reports required...) you'll be entered in a drawing for a gift certificate to a Michigan independent bookstore.

Happy Reading and Good Luck in the drawing! Winner will be announced March 1.

Click the bookmark photo for info about free bookmarks for your school, library, bookstore, or home

Coming in September: The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish

Welcome to Jumping The Candlestick!

This is the blog of NYT-bestselling children's book author Deborah Diesen.

On this blog, I run weekly profiles of Michigan or Michigan-related authors. Some are authors of books for grown-ups. Others are authors of books for kids. All are part of the great array of writing talent that Michigan has!

My blog also sometimes features bits of original poetry, the occasional workout DVD review, and other assorted odds and ends.

For more information about my books and appearances, my web site is http://www.deborahdiesen.com/ and I can be reached by email at deborah[at]deborahdiesen[dot]com